Visual Artists, Take Action: Don’t Let Congress Orphan Our Work
Under CURRENT COPYRIGHT LAW, any work you create is automatically protected, even if you share the work via novel channels like Flickr or Photobucket.
The Orphan Works 2008 Legislation would change that. It would force you to register every image you make with privately-held commercial registries. All unregistered works will be exposed as potential “orphans” for commercial infringement. In other words, Congress proposes to remove automatic copyright protection, opening the possibilty of unlimited, unlicensed and unathorized COMMERCIAL use of your works.
This site makes it easy for you to communicate with your members of Congress. Please feel free to use the templates below and when you fill out your address, your members of Congress will be automatically identified. Non U.S. artists please go here for a sample letter and the U.S. agencies to contact.
TAKE ACTION TODAY and tell your colleagues.
